The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-31
a LUCKY VERMONTER.
How Jeweler Cleared $4,000 by
His Knowledge of Geology.


Brattleboro Letter to Springfield Republican.
The wife of one of Brattleboro's wellknown
business men has recently received letter from
the family Of her nephew residing in Nergennes,
with interesting details concerning the discovery
of a rich vein of granite just across Lake Cham
plain from Vergennes and the organization OF q
stock company of capitalists for the purpose OF
developing the quarry. The Brattleooro party
is more particularly interested IN the 1acU Juau
the nephew, through this discovery or the Feln
comes into possession of large fortune The
story told by the relative is interesting.
Howard Burt, it seems, was Tor sew
eral years jeweler IN Nergehln ,'s
and, although he was economical and INDUS
triOuS, his little business hardly afforded more
than comfortable living for himself and family.
Gradually he became deeply interested IA the
subject of geology, to the study of which he
gave much of his leisure time and finally IL re
suited in his being recognized as one OF the most
scientific biologists in that section of the state
He was daily investigating the different strata
comprising the earth's crust and he was par
ticularly fond Of gathering specimens OF MIN
erals and fossils. One day he crossed the lake,
and in rambling about came upon VEN or
granite which subsequently proved TO De OF
great value and utility. He cOnfided the TACT or
bis discovery to a leading Vergennes physician,
who became interested and was finally offered
an interest with the understanding that he was
to furnish the capital for developing the quar-
ry, which he did. The buildings and derrlckS
were erected and the work of quarrying was in
time begun, but the capital being limited i'm
mediate results were not encouraging, and the
work was. after the lapse Of some time, dis
continued though as it has since turned out the
quality of the stock was such as to insure a
large demand. Mr. Burt, fully imbued with the
idea that the quarry was rich, and satisfied that
ultimately it would be proftably worked, de-
cided to remain on the ground, title to which he
had in some manner secured. and thus hold it
from trespaSsers And now comes the interest
ing part of the story, which proves the wisdom
OF his course and shows how he was amply re-
warded for his patience. His faith in his dis
covery and his determination to hold on has
been herocally maintained through period
fraught wth' frequent Acknowledgements. a
syndicate with ample capital comes for
ward at last and takes possession of
the quarry, which turns out to be of
great value, and the aged geologist and dis
coverer Is paid $4,000 and still retains profit
able interest In the company. The little town
of Westport gets quite an impetus in conse-
quence of the discovery while the pecuniary
circumstances of one who has experienced the
hardships of life are most pleasantly trans
formed. People acquainted with the circum-
stances tell of the discovery by this same Burt
of fossil in the shape of a large serpent, which
the geOlogist has partly uncarthed from the
rocks in the vicinity of the quarrieS. He has
already got out about eight feet of the monster,
the largest part OF which is some five inches in
diameter beginning with the tail every joint
is said to be perfect in detail as are the fine
petrified scales, while the cavity which held the
intestines is perfectly smooth surface. Burt
continues to unearth the fossil as time permits,
and he feels sure of obtaining the head, which
he thinks, like the body, is encased in solid
rock